A sea of colors danced below with an array of swishing skirts.  It was mesmerizing but…weird.  Funny how once Regelence balls awed him to see all the lords dancing together but now seeing so many ladies dancing felt foreign, even though he’d grown up in this environment.  Nate swirled his scotch around the tumbler.  Englor was nice, but it was no longer home.  He missed Regelence.  

“You think it’s wrong of us to be up here?”

Glancing over at his brother-in-law and around the balcony overlooking the palace ballroom, Nate  shrugged.  “Probably.”

Simon took a drink of his brandy and leaned back over the rail, resting his forearms against it.  Focusing on something past the dance floor, he winced.  “I feel slightly guilty.”

Nate followed his gaze and took a swig of his scotch.

In the corner of the room, Payton stood surrounded by a group of lords.  Slowly, he inched himself backward out of the group, his head bobbing up and down as he agreed with whoever was speaking.

“You shouldn’t feel guilty.  It’s one of the perks of being in charge.  We get to make our own rules.  We needed a break, so we took it.” Nate shrugged again and watched Trouble dance by with his father.  Galaxy, don’t let him be pumping Dad for more of my juvenile exploits again.  His dad had taken it upon himself to get to know Jeremy better while they were all here for a few weeks.  Oddly enough, the kid seemed to revel in the old man’s attention.  He was behaving himself for once. 

Simon rocked his drink back and forth on the rail absently.  Squinting, he bobbed his head.  “Is that Aiden making a break for it?”

“What?”  Nate scanned the crowd.

“There.”  Simon pointed to the far corner of Hollister Palace’s ballroom where the French door led to the formal garden. 

Nate groaned.  It was indeed his consort.

Aiden looked left and right, his hand already slipping into his evening coat, where there was no doubt a sketchscreen hidden. 

“I guess the sketchscreen started screaming for his attention.  I knew I should have patted him down before we left our room.”

“Oh, look Pay just got sprung too.  It looks like he now owes Bannon Thompson a favor.”  Simon set his tumbler on the rail and straightened his Englor Marine dress uniform. 

Aiden and Payton’s redheaded friend, who’d come to Englor with Nate and Aiden, tugged Payton away from the crowd he’d been trying to extricate himself from.  Just as Payton and Bannon turned away completely from the group of lords, the Duchess of Kentwood rushed toward them in a flurry of blue muslin. 

“Uh oh.  Run, Pay.”  Simon chuckled.

Nate laughed.  “You shouldn’t encourage him.  If he is the one being antisocial then you can’t.”

“He can’t hear me.”

“Duston tells him everything.”

Simon tried to frown but didn’t quite manage.  “Damn.  You’re right.  I suppose I should go save him from Dru.”

“All good things must come to an end, I suppose.”  Nate sighed.  “We’ve probably been up here long enough.”

“Bite your tongue, Nate.  We spent way more time down there than we have up here.” Scoffing, Simon rattled his glass against the rail.

“Yes, well, while I agree with your logic, I’ve got to go lecture an artist about the hazards of leaving the safety of the ballroom.”  One of these days his boy would learn…maybe.  He’d told Aiden more than once to not leave without telling someone. 

Nodding, Simon picked up his glass and held his hand out for Nate’s.  “Good idea.  I need to go check on Garrett before I go rescue my consort.”

“Don’t you have a nanny for that?”  Handing over his drink, Nate followed Si down the stairs. 

“Yes, but—-”  Simon set the glasses on the tray of the footman standing at the top of the first landing.  He shrugged.  “You’ll see.  Just wait until you have a son.”

“I have one.  And trust me, if I could get a nanny to take care of him I would.” 

Laughing, Simon nodded.  “Yes, I imagine when Garrett is Trouble’s age I’ll be wishing the same thing.”  Simon paused, his foot hovering over the bottom step.  “When are you and Aiden going to have a baby?”

Good galaxy, not Simon too.  “Don’t start, I get enough of that from my father and Aiden’s parents.”

“Why do you think I’m asking?  I’m getting tired of the daily televid calls inquiring how my son is and instructing me to hold him up in front of the screen.”

“Steven or Raleigh?”  Nate grinned, imagining his fathers-in-law making pests of themselves. 

“Both.”  Dodging a group of peers in a circle, Simon stopped at the ballroom door and grinned at Nate.  “Go find Aiden.  If you want to call it a night, I’ll let your father know and help him keep an eye on Jeremy and Bannon.”

With a crisp nod, Nate waded through the throng of people to collect his errant consort.

He found Aiden exactly where he knew he would, sitting on a bench on the veranda with his dark head bent over the sketchscreen.  Not surprisingly, Aiden never even looked up as Nate approached.  “Boy, what are—”

“I knew you were there.”  Aiden’s concentration never wavered from his sketch.

“Did you?”

“Yes.”  Aiden nodded.  “I’ve been waiting for you actually.”  Lifting his stylus, he cocked his head to the side studying his screen before nodding once.  “This looks good.”  He held it up showing Nate a lovely recreation of the snow covered fountain pools, the entrance to the hedge maze and the gazebo.  “See?  I’ve a ton of sketches of Hawthorne as well.  I thought you might like to have them once we get back home.”

“You are trying to distract me.”  Nate arched a brow, trying for imposing.  Aiden knew damned well how awed Nate was of his talent.

Aiden turned his screen off and tucked it back inside his evening coat.  Blinking up at Nate, he grinned.  “From what?”

“From lecturing you about drawing while you are supposed to be inside dancing.  Haven’t I told you over and over not to bring sketchscreens to balls and dinner parties?”  And damned if Nate would admit it but that incessant need to draw was one of the things he loved about his boy.  It worried Nate though.   Aiden was usually oblivious to his surroundings when he got into his art.

Standing, Aiden brushed off the front of Nate’s dress whites and straightened his jacket.  Aiden licked his lips and made an appreciative sound somewhere between a moan and a whimper that went right to Nate’s cock.  The boy always had had a thing for his uniform.  “Maybe a spanking would help me remember not to bring screens to social events.”

Oh fuck.  Nate’s prick hardened completely at the suggestion.  That was the best idea Nate had heard all evening.  “I doubt that.  But since I know you’re aware of the heightened security here, I’m feeling indulgent.  Would you like a spanking?”

Aiden’s eyes widened and his face grew flush.  Combing his fingers over Nate’s beard, Aiden kissed him and nestled his long lean body against Nate.  As the evidence of his arousal pressed against Nate’s thigh, he moaned against Nate’s mouth and traced the seam of Nate’s lips with his tongue.  Aiden’s free hand clutched at Nate’s chest. 

Pulling back, Nate caught his boy’s hand before it traveled inside his uniform jacket.  He loved how eager Aiden always was, but this wasn’t the ideal place for a tryst.  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Aiden nodded so vigorously it made his dark curls bounce. 

“Very well, lets go to our room.”  Looping his consort’s arm over his, Nate led them around the back of the palace, bypassing the ballroom.

As soon as they cleared the threshold of their guest room, Aiden’s cravat flew past Nate and onto the floor, revealing the gold collar Nate had given him. Aiden proceeded to hop around, undressing at the speed of light.  Someone was eager.  Of course, he always was.  It was adorable and flattering all at once.  Closing the door, Nate chuckled and leaned against it. “In a hurry?”

Aiden froze with one stockinged foot in the air and a shoe in hand.  A slow grin oozed over his face, followed by a blush.  “I could undress you first.”

“I think I can manage.”  Still smiling, Nate began unbuttoning the gold buttons on his jacket.  If Aiden was this wired up, it was going to be a brief affair and Nate was really looking forward to taking his time.  “Do we have anything to bind you with?”  That should help…he hoped.  Adjusting his cock, Nate sat in the chair closest to the door and began removing his shoes.

There was a whimper, followed by more shuffling.  A charcoal gray waistcoat flew past Nate’s foot. 

Apparently, Nate wasn’t the only one who liked that idea.  Once his feet were bare, Nate glanced up.

Aiden knelt, naked in front of Nate’s open space chest.  He rummaged through it and came up with a pair of cuffs, holding them up for Nate to see.  One elegant brow arched and his face glowed with excitement.

Damn, what a sight.  Aiden on his knees…  Biting back a moan, Nate nodded.  “Those will work.  What else did you sneak into my chest?”

The smile Aiden gave him was downright wicked.  Naughty boy.  Digging back into the chest, Aiden came up with a black suede flogger and a black plug.

This time Nate did moan.  He’d created a monster, but damned if he could find anything wrong with that. “Put them on the nightstand, then get up in the middle of the bed.” 

Aiden did as instructed.  “Hurry.  Please.”  He fidgeted making his toned muscles flex and ripple nicely.  The pretty cock standing at attention bounced and wagged back and forth. 

Lovely.  Nate’s stomach clenched, his prick jerking against his abdomen.  He wanted to rip off the rest of his clothes and throw himself on his consort, but he wouldn’t.  He would take his time because he was running the show here not Aiden. The little imp.

Slowly stripping off the rest of his clothes, Nate made his way to the bed.  Feeling the heated air on his naked skin, he stood there for just a moment, building Aiden’s anticipation.  “On your stomach, hands behind your back.”  Gathering the plug, he lubed it up with the dispenser on the nightstand.  He missed the one built into his headboard.  So much easier to get lube when you were actually in the bed.  It was the little things that made him prefer Regelence. 

After slicking up the plug, Nate turned and nearly swallowed his tongue. 

Aiden had lifted onto his knees, putting his gorgeous arse in the air while keeping his chest pressed into the mattress.  He stared at Nate, his pretty gray eyes already half lidded with lust.

Crawling onto the bed, Nate gripped the irresistible prick teasing him and slid the plug across Aiden’s crease.

“Mmmm…”  Aiden shivered, his back rippling, and reached for Nate’s cock.

“Hands behind your back, boy.”  If Aiden touched him…  The thought was almost enough to make Nate shiver.  He squeezed Aiden’s erection and pressed the tip of the plug against Aiden’s hole pushing it in just a bit. 

Resting his hands, palms up, on his lower back, Aiden pressed back toward the plug.  His cock throbbed in Nate’s hand.  “Please.”

Closing his eyes, Nate took a deep breath.  Galaxy, he loved that pleading voice.  He should drag this out, fuck Aiden with the plug for a bit, but damn his own cock was aching for relief.  Opening his eyes, he pressed the plug steadily in, watching as the thick part of the toy stretched Aiden’s hole wide.  “Fuck.” 

Pushing back further, Aiden closed his eyes and nodded his head absently as the plug slid all the way in. 

Letting go of the toy and Aiden’s hard pulsing flesh, Nate swatted the pretty arse.  “I didn’t tell you to move.” 

Aiden let out a squeak, not expecting the swat, but otherwise didn’t move.  Good boy.  A pink palm print suffused on the pale skin.  Fuck him, that harsh black against that pale skin with a tinge of pink was decadent.

Tearing his gaze away, Nate bound his consort’s hands behind his back, got off of the bed and picked up the flogger.  He tested the weight of it in his hand.  It was his favorite one.  It really was not surprising that Aiden had brought it along.  He’d developed a real fondness for flogging.  It was hard to say who enjoyed it more at this point.  “Keep your arse in the air.”

“Yes sir.”  Aiden’s cock jerked and a drop of clear fluid dripped onto the mattress.

“Good boy.”  Nate’s chest tightened.  His balls drew up closer to his body.  I love you. 

After striking his hand, letting Aiden hear the slap of suede against skin, Nate set to work.  The first few lashes garnered contented sighs making Nate grin.  He’d do just about anything for those sounds, but the soft steady pace wouldn’t mark up Aiden’s pale skin with his stripes.  The next few swats were harder, gaining Nate a moan. 

Pink stripes began to cover the pale arse and thighs but Nate didn’t let up.  After a dozen more swats it was hard to make out the palm print Nate had put there first.  Now Aiden’s arse was a nice rose color all over.  He was no doubt feeling the heat now, maybe even a bit of sting, but the look on his face was pure bliss.

Aiden was so lovely, all sweaty and flush.  A glow of contentment surrounded him. 

A few minutes more and a fine sheen of sweat covered both of them.  Nate considered continuing, but he was so hard and aching, he was dying to have his boy.  Tossing the flogger aside, Nate ran his fingers through the dark hair, moving it off Aiden’s forehead.  “Beautiful.”

Aiden’s eyes popped open, blinking several times before focusing on Nate.

“Up.”  Taking Aiden under the arms, Nate helped him to his knees.  He didn’t let go of Aiden until he was standing on the floor in front of Nate. 

Aiden’s chest rose and fell with shallow choppy breaths and his skin glistened with perspiration.  A trickle of sweat rolled down his temple and his expression was still a little glassy, far away. 

Nate brushed a kiss across his lips.  “Are you steady?”

“Yes, sir.”  He craned his face towards Nate.

Grinning, Nate kissed him again.  He trailed his fingers over the smooth cheekbone and down Aiden’s chin lingering close in case Aiden’s balance was off.   After a few seconds, Nate was secure in the fact that Aiden was steady on his feet and stepped back.  He sat in the chair near the window and spread his legs.  “Suck me.”

Moaning long and low, Aiden bent his knee.  Before he could wobble, Nate grabbed Aiden’s waist, steadying him as he knelt.  Once he was on the floor and Nate let go.  Rubbing his cheek along Nate’s thigh, Aiden positioned his mouth around for Nate’s cock, angling it down so he could flick the gold ring in Nate’s cock with his tongue.

Nate’s cock jerked.  Galaxy, he was so close.  He glanced out the window at the snow covered ground glistening in the moonlight trying to avert his attention and gain back some of his control.   If he looked down at that beloved face— 

Aiden’s mouth closed over him. 

Oh damn, that feels wonderful. Just one look at those swollen red lips wrapped around his prick, or the long pale back, bound hands and arse with lots of pretty marks across it from the flogger would have him coming.  Was the base of the black plug visible from this angle?  Oh damn, thinking about it wasn’t much better than looking. 

Aiden took him all the way to the back of his throat and a long drawn out moan vibrated against Nate’s cock, joining the sexy slurping noises.  

Fuck.  Who was he kidding?  He couldn’t hold off the inevitable any longer.  He didn’t want to. His boy had gotten so damned good at that, he’d earned Nate’s orgasm as well as his own.  Glancing down into languid gray eyes and hollowed out cheeks, Nate gripped Aiden’s shoulders.  “Come up here, boy.”

Aiden let Nate’s prick slide from his mouth.  His head tilted slightly and he raised up, positioning his foot on the floor readying himself to stand.

Hooking his hands under Aiden’s arms Nate lifted, helping his consort to his feet.  He was only a little wobbly, but Nate wasn’t taking any chances since Aiden’s hands were bound behind his back. No way would he allow his boy to get hurt.

When Aiden got his balance, Nate leaned back enjoying the view.

Firelight gleamed off of his collar and a trickle of sweat slid from his collarbone toward the rippled belly. The muscles in Aiden’s chest and arms flexed.   His cock hard and pointing toward the ceiling.  A dribble of precum oozed down the shaft.  Nate had the urge to lean forward and catch it on his tongue.  “In my lap, boy.” 

Positioning his legs on each side of Nate’s thighs, Aiden settled his heated arse onto Nate’s thighs.  Their cocks touched and Aiden hissed out a breath.  Nate wasn’t sure if it was the feel of his recently flogged arse on Nate’s hairy thighs or his cock touching Nate’s, but Aiden’s belly tensed and his cock jerked. 

Nate reached back and unhooked his cuffs allowing his hands their freedom.    

Closing his eyes, Aiden rolled his shoulders, trying to get the stiffness out of his arms. 

Nate frowned.  Had he left Aiden bound too long?  No.  He didn’t thing so, but he massaged Aiden’s shoulders anyway.   

After shrugging his shoulders a few more times, Aiden leaned and nuzzled his cheek against Nate’s beard like a cat.  Nate grinned.  His boy did that a lot. 

Closing his eyes, Nate gripped Aiden’s cock and used his other hand to reach back and jostle the plug in Aiden’s arse.  Aiden had taken the flogging and being bound with such grace and stayed on the edge of orgasm for nearly an hour.  It was time to reward that.  “What do you need to come, sweetheart?”

Aiden sat up, his eyes opening wide.  His breath hitched and he bucked into Nate’s hand.  “Just your permission, Sir.”

The answer went straight to Nate’s heart.  Resting his forehead against Aiden’s sweaty chest, he groaned and stroked his boy’s cock.  “Then come for me, baby.”  He whispered and kissed Aiden’s neck.  Jostling the plug again, Nate sat back to watch and was rewarded with a gasp and a thrust into his hand.

Aiden came in a body wracking shudder.  Semen shot onto Nate’s chest, his wrist and Aiden’s belly.  A long ragged groan tore from his throat.  “Ahhhh…” When he finally stopped quivering and the tension melted out of him.  He opened his eyes and grinned.  “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re welcome, boy.”  Nate let go of Aiden’s cock in favor of grabbing his own.  He tugged on the plug again, not enough to dislodge it, but enough to remind Aiden it was there.          

Squirming, Aiden gasped, his mouth formed an o. 

If there was anything as lovely, Nate had yet to see it.  His balls pulled impossibly tight.  So close.

Aiden leaned forward, his face next to Nate’s.  “So sexy.”  He flicked the ring in Nate’s cock then tugged it.  “Let me do it, pleeease…”  His hand covered Nate’s.

Nate let go, resting his arms on the arm rests, and let Aiden take over. 

Stroking Nate’s cock, Aiden kissed his way down Nate’s neck.  When he reached the base of Nate’s neck he squeezed Nate’s cock harder and bit Nate’s shoulder.

“Oh fuck.”  Pain raced down Nate’s torso and coiled as pleasure in his groin.  His back and neck tingled.  The breath whooshed out of his lungs.   Arching his back off the chair, he moaned and he came.  His whole body melted as he gasped for air.

Aiden peered down at him, a sparkle of mischief in his gray eyes.  “I love you.” He said a little too sweetly.

Nate reached back and pulled the plug out.

“Uhh…”  Aiden’s eyes went wide as he fell onto Nate mashing their combined spunk between their bodies. 

“Just reminding you who’s in charge, boy.”  He kissed Aiden’s cheek.  “I love you too.”  Tossing the plug toward the washroom, Nate wrapped his arms around his consort.

“I know who is in charge.”  Aiden mumbled against Nate’s neck.  “Happy Valentines Day, Nate.”

“Sir.”  He corrected halfheartedly.  Sleep was already beginning to creep up on him.  He should move them to the bed.

“It’s okay you don’t have to call me sir.  Aiden will be fine.”

Biting back a laugh, Nate swatted Aiden’s still warm arse.  “Behave boy.”

“Yeoow.  Okay.”  Aiden chuckled and squirmed closer, until his face was nestled in Nate’s neck.  “Happy Valentines Day, Sir.”

With a contented sigh, Nate closed his eyes reveling in the feel of Aiden in his arms.  This was perfect, he had the best piece of Regelence right here.  “Happy Valentines, Sweetheart.”

©Copyright February 2009 by J.L. Langley

May not be copied in whole or part without permission from author.